BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
·
2019
·
IF 2.705
Jinyue Zhu,Weiqing Wang,Xia Wu
Hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is key to the progression of asthma. Isorhynchophylline (IRN) derived from Uncaria rhynchophylla can inhibit the proliferation of AMSCs. The major purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of IRN on the asthma symptoms was assessed both in vitro and in vivo, and the associated mechanism of the effect was also explored by focusing on the function of miR-200a. Asthma model was induced using ovalbumin (OVA) method and AMSC hyperplasia model was induced using TGF-β1. The effect of IRN on allergic asthma mice and the effect of IRN on the proliferation of ASMCs were investigated as well, and the changes in miR-200a level and FOXC1/NF-κB pathway were detected. The administration of IRN attenuated the eosinophils recruitment in BALF, reduced collagen deposition in lung tissues, and suppressed production of IgE and pro-inflammation cytokines. IRN also inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of ASMCs. Moreover, the administration of IRN increased the level of miR-200a while inhibited the activation of FOXC1/NF-κB pathway. However, after the inhibition of miR-200a level, the function of IRN on ASMCs was impaired. Collectively, it was demonstrated that the effect of IRN on asthma relied on the up-regulation of miR-200a, which then deactivated FOXC1/NF-κB pathway.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
·
分子生物学
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呼吸医学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
·
2023
·
IF 5
Jingchen Gao,Xiyuran Wang,Xiangyi Kong,Xujin Yao,Jinyang Ren,Shujun Chen,Na Shen,Zhuo Li,Yitian Wang,Ye Wei,Oleg Glebov,Fengyuan Che,Qi Wan
Proline, a nonessential amino acid, has been demonstrated to possess neuroprotective capabilities in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the mechanisms through which it impacts cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injuries remain unclear. Our study observed a decrease in proline concentrations within the ischemic brain tissues of I/R mice. Supplementing proline protected against ischemic neuronal death, both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting its potential as a neuroprotectant. However, our data indicated that proline has a low permeability to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in mice. Therefore, it is clinically infeasible to develop proline as a stroke therapy. To develop an approach to deliver proline into the injured brain, we engineered a method to transport proline to the injured brain. We prepared chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with proline utilizing the ion cross-linking method. Our findings demonstrated that the proline-loaded chitosan NPs efficiently passed through the BBB and delivered proline into the injured brain, thereby conferring neuroprotection. Further exploration revealed that proline upregulated the level of annexin A6 (ANX6)/β1 integrin, which, in turn, increased the phosphorylation of cell-survival-promoting kinase Akt. This sequence of events consequently promotes neuronal survival following I/R. In conclusion, our study has developed a neuroprotection approach by which low-BBB-permeable proline is delivered by chitosan NPs into the brain. Furthermore, this study suggests that the neuroprotective role of proline in I/R is mediated by the ANX6/β1 integrin/Akt signaling pathway.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药学
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
·
2023
·
IF 3.9
Yingying Chen,Wei Song,He Zhang,Xinping Ji
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells is a vital process in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which results in the accumulation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Based on RNA sequencing analysis and GEO dataset reanalysis, we screened out MICALL2, a gene upregulated in the lungs of IPF mice and alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells from IPF patients, and aimed to explore its role in IPF. We validated the expression of MICALL2 in bleomycin (BLM)-induced IPF mice and TGF-β1-stimulated ATII cells (primary murine ATII cells and A549 cells), and explored the role of MICALL2 in IPF by knockdown of MICALL2 in BLM-induced mice and TGF-β1-stimulated ATII cells. We found that MICALL2 was upregulated in the lungs of BLM-induced mice and TGF-β1-stimulated ATII cells. MICALL2-deficient mice had reduced fibrogenesis and restrained EMT upon BLM challenge. Knockdown of MICALL2 restrained the EMT process, in vitro, through impeding β‐catenin nuclear translocation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that NPAS2 is directly bound to the promoter of MICALL2. Altogether, our data revealed transactivation of MICALL2 induced by NPAS2, contributing to activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in ATII cells, thus leading to the EMT process and subsequent pulmonary fibrosis. Interfering with MICALL2 may represent an innovative therapeutic target to mitigate the extent of IPF.
研究领域:
肺科学
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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病理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
·
2024
·
IF 10.5
Yongguo Xiang,Zhu Qiu,Yuanfu Ding,Miaomiao Du,Ning Gao,Huijie Cao,Hangjia Zuo,Hong Cheng,Xiang Gao,Shijie Zheng,Wenjuan Wan,Xiaobei Huang,Ke Hu
Dexamethasone (DEX) has been demonstrated to inhibit the inflammatory corneal neovascularization (CNV). However, the therapeutic efficacy of DEX is limited by the poor bioavailability of conventional eye drops and the increased risk of hormonal glaucoma and cataract associated with prolonged and frequent usage. To address these limitations, we have developed a novel DEX-loaded, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive, controlled-release nanogel, termed DEX@INHANGs. This advanced nanogel system is constructed by the formation of supramolecular host-guest complexes by cyclodextrin (CD) and adamantane (ADA) as a cross-linking force. The introduction of the ROS-responsive material, thioketal (TK), ensures the controlled release of DEX in response to oxidative stress, a characteristic of CNV. Furthermore, the nanogel's prolonged retention on the corneal surface for over 8 h is achieved through covalent binding of the integrin β1 fusion protein, which enhances its bioavailability. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that DEX@INHANGs was not notably toxic to human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Furthermore, DEX@INHANGs has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit angiogenesis in vitro. In a rabbit model with chemically burned eyes, the once-daily topical application of DEX@INHANGs was observed to effectively suppress CNV. These results collectively indicate that the nanomedicine formulation of DEX@INHANGs may offer a promising treatment option for CNV, offering significant advantages such as reduced dosing frequency and enhanced patient compliance.
研究领域:
药学
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眼科学
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纳米技术
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药物递送系统
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炎症
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氧化应激
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
·
2024
·
IF 4.9
Xiao-Yi Chen,Tian-Tian Wang,Qing Shen,Hao Ma,Zhan-Hua Li,Xi-Na Yu,Xiao-Feng Huang,Lin-Sen Qing,Pei Luo
In traditional Chinese medicine, Radix Astragali has played a vital role in treating progressive fibrotic diseases. One of its main active components, astragaloside IV, is a promising anti-fibrotic treatment despite its extremely low bioavailability. Our study aimed to optimize sodium astragalosidate (SA) by salt formation to improve solubility and oral absorption for anti-fibrotic therapy in vivo. Isoproterenol-induced myocardial fibrosis rat models and obese BKS-db mice presenting diabetic kidney fibrosis were used in this study. Daily oral administration of SA (20 mg/kg) for 14 days ameliorated cardiac fibrosis by reducing collagen accumulation and fibrosis-related inflammatory signals, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In db/db mice, SA (5,10, and 20 mg/kg per day for 8 weeks) dose-dependently alleviated lipid metabolism impairment and renal dysfunction when administered orally. Furthermore, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses demonstrated that SA treatment inhibited renal fibrosis by suppressing TGF-β1/Smads signaling. Taken together, our findings provide the oral-route medication availability of SA, which thus might offer a novel lead compound in preclinical trial-enabling studies for developing a long-term therapy to treat and prevent fibrosis.
研究领域:
药理学
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心脏病学
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肾病学
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传统中医
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
·
2024
·
IF 5.3
Ayesha Younas,Muhammad Asad,Xiangling Wan,Yuzhen Zhang,Xuejing Ma,Lei Wang,Huan Gu,Hongtao Shang,Nan Zhang
Hypertrophic scar (HS) manifests as abnormal dermal myofibroblast proliferation and excessive collagen deposition, leading to raised scars and significant physical, psychological, and financial burdens for patients. HS is difficult to cure in the clinic and current therapies lead to recurrence, pain, and side effects. In this study, a natural amphiphilic polymer mucin is used to prepare a dissolving microneedle (muMN) that is loaded with oregano essential oil (OEO) for HS therapy. muMN exhibits sufficient skin/scar tissue penetration, quick skin recovery time after removal, good loading of natural essential oil, fast dissolution and detachment from the base layer, and good biocompatibility to applied skin. In the rabbit HS model, OEO@muMN shows a significant reduction in scar thickness, epidermal thickness index, and scar elevation index. OEO@muMN also attenuates the mean collagen area fraction and decreases the number of capillaries in scar tissues. Biochemical Assay reveals that OEO@muMN significantly inhibits the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and hydroxyproline (HYP). In summary, this study demonstrates the feasibility and good efficacy of using the anti-proliferative and anti-oxidative OEO for HS treatment. OEO@muMN is an efficient formulation that holds the potential for clinical anti-HS application. muMN is an efficient platform to load and apply essential oils transdermally.
研究领域:
皮肤科
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药学
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生物医学工程
·
伤口愈合
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 3.2
Mingkang Zhang,Jinru Yang,Yufan Yuan,Yan Zhou,Yazhi Wang,Ruirui Cui,Yimai Maliu,Fen Xu,Xin’an Wu
Liver diseases caused by viral infections, alcoholism, drugs, or chemical poisons are a significant health problem: Liver diseases are a leading contributor to mortality, with approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Liver fibrosis, as a common liver disease characterized by excessive collagen deposition, is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and there is no effective treatment. Numerous studies have shown that the accumulation of mast cells (MCs) in the liver is closely associated with liver injury caused by a variety of factors. This study investigated the relationship between MCs and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and the effects of the MC stabilizers sodium cromoglycate (SGC) and ketotifen (KET) on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The results showed that MCs were recruited or activated during CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Coadministration of SCG or KET alleviated the liver fibrosis by decreasing SCF/c-kit expression, inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway, depressing the HIF-1a/VEGF pathway, activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and increasing the hepatic levels of GSH, GSH-Px, and GR, thereby reducing hepatic oxidative stress. Collectively, recruitment or activation of MCs is linked to liver fibrosis and the stabilization of MCs may provide a new approach to the prevention of liver fibrosis.
研究领域:
肝病学
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药理学
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病理学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FASEB JOURNAL
·
2024
·Vol. 38
·期 13
·e23756
·
IF 4.4
Lishen Shan,Li Chen,Wenxin Shen,Qianlan Zhou,Si Liu,Lina Han,Qinzhen Zhang,Bing Dai,Yuhong Zhao
Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease with the worldwide prevalence. The structural alterations of airway walls, termed as “airway remodeling”, are documented as the core contributor to the airway dysfunction during chronic asthma. Forkhead box transcription factor FOXK2 is a critical regulator of glycolysis, a metabolic reprogramming pathway linked to pulmonary fibrosis. However, the role of FOXK2 in asthma waits further explored. In this study, the chronic asthmatic mice were induced via ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and repetitive OVA challenge. FOXK2 was upregulated in the lungs of OVA mice and downregulated after adenovirus-mediated FOXK2 silencing. The lung inflammation, peribronchial collagen deposition, and glycolysis in OVA mice were obviously attenuated after FOXK2 knockdown. Besides, the expressions of FOXK2 and SIRT2 in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were increasingly upregulated upon TGF-β1 stimulation and downregulated after FOXK2 knockdown. Moreover, the functional loss of FOXK2 remarkably suppressed TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and glycolysis in BEAS-2B cells, as manifested by the altered expressions of EMT markers and glycolysis enzymes. The glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) inhibited the EMT in TGF-β1-induced cells, making glycolysis a driver of EMT. The binding of FOXK2 to SIRT2 was validated, and SIRT2 overexpression blocked the FOXK2 knockdown-mediated inhibition of EMT and glycolysis in TGF-β1-treated cells, which suggests that FOXK2 regulates EMT and glycolysis in TGF-β1-treated cells in a SIRT2-dependnet manner. Collectively, this study highlights the protective effect of FOXK2 knockdown on airway remodeling during chronic asthma.
研究领域:
呼吸病学
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免疫学
·
分子生物学
·
细胞生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ASIAN JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 3
Du Guang-Jun,Xing Si-Yan,Wu Ning,Wang Tong,Jiang Yue-Hui,Song Tao,Yang Bai-Bing,Dai Yu-Tian
Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a disorder characterized by fibrous plaque formation in the penile tissue that leads to curvature and complications in advanced stages. In this study, we aimed to compare four injectable induction agents for the establishment of a robust rat model of PD: transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), fibrin, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) combined with TGF-β1, and polidocanol (POL) combined with TGF-β1. The results showed that injection of TGF-β1 or fibrin into the tunica albuginea induced pathological endpoints without causing penile curvature. The STS + TGF-β1 combination resulted in both histological and morphological alterations, but with a high incidence of localized necrosis that led to animal death. The POL + TGF-β1 combination produced pathological changes and curvature comparable to STS + TGF-β1 and led to fewer complications. In conclusion, fibrin, STS + TGF-β1, and POL + TGF-β1 all induced PD with a certain degree of penile curvature and histological fibrosis in rats. The POL + TGF-β1 combination offered comparatively greater safety and clinical relevance and may have the greatest potential for PD research using model rats.
研究领域:
泌尿科
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动物模型
·
疾病模型
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
International Journal of Nanomedicine
·
2016
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IF 4.32
Yunzhu Qian,Hanbang Chen,Yang Xu,Jianxin Yang,Xuefeng Zhou,Feimin Zhang,Ning Gu
Constructing biomimetic structure and incorporating bioactive molecules is an effective strategy to achieve a more favorable cell response. To explore the effect of electrospinning (ES) nanofibrous architecture and collagen I (COL I)-incorporated modification on tuning osteoblast response, a resorbable membrane composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(caprolactone) (PLGA/PCL; 7:3 w/w) was developed via ES. COL I was blended into PLGA/PCL solution to prepare composite ES membrane. Notably, relatively better cell response was delivered by the bioactive ES-based membrane which was fabricated by modification of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and COL I. After investigation by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, and mechanical test, polyporous three-dimensional nanofibrous structure with low tensile force and the successful integration of COL I was obtained by the ES method. Compared with traditional PLGA/PCL membrane, the surface hydrophilicity of collagen-incorporated membranes was largely enhanced. The behavior of mouse preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cell infiltration and proliferation on membranes was studied at 24 and 48 hours. The negative control was fabricated by solvent casting. Evaluation of cell adhesion and morphology demonstrated that all the ES membranes were more favorable for promoting the cell adhesion and spreading than the casting membrane. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays revealed that biomimetic architecture, surface topography, and bioactive properties of membranes were favorable for cell growth. Analysis of β1 integrin expression level by immunofluorescence indicated that such biomimetic architecture, especially COL I-grafted surface, plays a key role in cell adhesion and proliferation. The real-time polymerase chain reaction suggested that both surface topography and bioactive properties could facilitate the cell adhesion. The combined effect of biomimetic architecture with enhanced surface activity by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-assisted modification and COL I incorporation of PLGA/PCL electrospun membranes could successfully fill osteogenic defects and allow for better cell proliferation and differentiation.
研究领域:
生物材料
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组织工程
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细胞生物学
·
材料科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Nano
·
2021
·
IF 15.881
Xiaozheng Zhao,Xiao Yang,Xudong Wang,Xiao Zhao,Yinlong Zhang,Shaoli Liu,Gregory J. Anderson,Seong-jin Kim,Yiye Li,Guangjun Nie
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells are surrounded by a dense extracellular matrix (ECM), which greatly restricts the access of therapeutic agents, resulting in poor clinical response to chemotherapy. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling plays a crucial role in construction of the desmoplastic stroma and provides potential targets for PDAC therapy. To surmount the pathological obstacle, we developed a size switchable nanosystem based on PEG–PLGA nanospheres encapsulated within liposomes for the combined delivery of vactosertib (VAC), a TGF-β1 receptor kinase inhibitor, and the cytotoxic drug paclitaxel (TAX). By surface modification of the liposomes with a peptide, APTEDB, the nanosystem can be anchored to abundant tumor-associated fibronectin in PDAC stroma and decreases its size by releasing encapsulated TAX-loaded nanospheres, as well as VAC after collapse of the liposomes. The inhibition of ECM hyperplasia by VAC allows TAX more ready access to the cancer cells in addition to its small size, thereby shrinking pancreatic tumor xenografts more effectively than a combination of the free drugs. This size switchable nanosystem enables sequential delivery of drugs at a fixed dose combination with simplified administration and provides an encouraging cascade approach of drug penetration for enhanced chemotherapy in cancers with a dense desmoplastic stroma.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
·
药学
·
纳米技术
·
癌症治疗
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
·
2022
·
IF 6.1
Xin Xie,Ting-ting Shen,Hai-lian Bi,Zhuo-lin Su,Zi-qi Liao,Ying Zhang,Lei Shi,Yun-long Xia
Angiotensin II (Ang II) induced Atrial fibrillation (AF) often accompanied with reduced ATRAP which is a negative modulator of Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Melatonin can protect against AF, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, Ang II was used to induce AF, and AF inducibility and duration were documented telemetrically. Ang II-infused mice had a higher AF incidence, which was associated with atrial fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Melatonin partially inhibited these effects, and enforced expression of siRNA-ATRAP in atria counteracted the beneficial role of melatonin. Specifically, melatonin inhibited expression of Ang II-induced proteasome and immunoproteasome subunits β2, β2i, β5, and β5i as well as their corresponding trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities and blocked ATRAP degradation. In turn, this inhibited AT1R-mediated NF-κB signaling, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad signaling in the atria, and thereby affected atrial remodeling and AF. Melatonin receptor inhibition by the chemical inhibitor luzindole partially inhibited the inhibitory effects of melatonin on proteasome activity and also Ang II-induced pathological changes in the atria. Overall, our study demonstrates that melatonin protects against Ang II-induced AF by inhibiting proteasome activity and stabilizing ATRAP expression, and these effects are partially dependent on melatonin receptor activation.
研究领域:
心脏病学
·
分子生物学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）